MBUK verdict:
Power: 10/10
Control: 7/10
Use: 7/10
Value: 7/10
Heavy and expensive, but monster power for ultimate hardcore use.
Overall: 7/10
The huge amount of hose supplied will fit any bike and the hinged lever clamp make set-up easy.
MBUK rating: Still one of the most powerful brakes around. 8/10
The Gustav M is the only floating brake here (though loads of motocross bikes use them), with a calliper that slides on two thick stainless steel pins. Pulling the lever pushed the two pistons of the caliper outside on the to the rotor, pulling the fixed inner pad on to the rotor at the same time. Ceramic insulated pistons keep heat away from the hydraulics, making it a consistent performer even on Alpine runs.
MBUK VERDICT: 9/10
Heavy, but the ultimate in braking power.
Instead of having a static caliper where the opposing pistons close in on the rotor, the Gustav has two pistons on the same side of the caliper. When you actuate the brake lever the caliper floats on stainless steel pins to bring the static pad (closest to the spokes) and the active pad (contacting the the pistons) evenly together on the rotor. Ceramic isolator inserts in the aluminium pistons prevent heat transfer into the hydraulic fluid and the one-piece caliper reduces flex. But is the design any better? Yes, the Gustav was easily the most powerful brake in this test but there are many factors that contribute to this; not just the just design of the caliper - the long lever gives an obvious mechanical advantage while the long, soft compound pads increase friction and stopping power.
If you want the most powerful brake on the market, look no further. It's the one-finger braking all the way, but you might be overbraked for the UK.
MBR verdict: 9/10
We ran the Gustav M with a 210mm disc up front and 190mm on the rear, with Performance Type 1.1 pads on a Yeti DH bike on the four minute Mont Chery track in Les Gets in dry conditions.
Lever and Master Cylinder
The Gustav scores in its ease of mounting. The hinged lever assembly makes for very easy fitting without any grip wrestling. The long levers with an early elbow feel comfortable, grippy, with smooth edges. Like most brakes they are forged one piece units with high security four bolt covers to the master cylinder which contains mineral oil only.
Calipers
Unique in bicycle circles but more common on motorcycles, the Gustav features a floating caliper. They are of exceptional quality, one piece with single bolt pad housing. Of the two varieties of pad we ran the Performance over the Endurance. The 40x15mm pads provide enormous power ability via the double piston design.
Use
There are few places in Britain that can truly put a brake under pressure, hence the choice of a World class non pedalling descending environment which we chose to try the Gustav's. Only such places can really do this brake justice. Beginning with the levers, these always feel comfortable under intense use but need careful set up because their length can leave your finger out in the open rather than in the elbow. From cold the Gustav immediately sets to work with a sharp yet smooth feel (I think modulation is the right word to describe this). Whatever, the pads feel grippy rather than grabby, and whilst some brake could be described as having metallic feel under pressure, the MAGURA does not. It's good. On each run the MAGURA remained consistent with no movement evident in their operation. By the end of the run, they continued to stop with the same feel, no fade, no overheating, just constant.
For riders running in beaten up conditions and on big hills the Gustav would be a trustworthy stopper. For heavier riders too it would have its advantages. Yet its strength throughout was smoothness of delivery, whether you require smooth and weak or strong and hard. A five-year leakproof warranty on levers, master cylinder and caliper is pretty special from the German made stoppers and a comprehensive guide. The company is more than thorough.
In the Gustav MAGURA have come up with an excellent product. The function is faultless and the back up comprehensive . Servicing is simple although it's unlikely that you'll be needing to go there too often. Fit and forget. We felt that the performance pads were worth the higher turnover (longer lasting pads, called Endurance, are also available). There are many strong points in these brakes both in engineering terms and usage. I loved the fact that they could be used sparingly at every moment, but with the knowledge that if things got out of hand I had an anchor to rely on.
Unquestionably some of the best disc brakes available!
